# Maryland HB 0329: Criminal Law - School Resource Officers - Prohibition on Sexual Activity with Students

Maryland HB 0329, Criminal Law - School Resource Officers - Prohibition on Sexual Activity with Students, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Karen Simpson (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 452) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0329-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 0329
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Criminal Law - School Resource Officers - Prohibition on Sexual Activity with Students
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-16
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 452
- Sponsor: Karen Simpson (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Subjects: Criminal Law - Substantive Crimes, Education - Miscellaneous, Crimes and Punishments -see also- Penalties and Sentnc; etc., Law Enforcement -see also- SRO; Sheriffs; State Police, School Resource Officers, Sexual Offenses, Students
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (171 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Criminal penalties for officer sexual misconduct: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, breaking these rules is a misdemeanor. Punishment can be up to 3 years in jail, a fine up to $3,000, or both. Judges can make this sentence run at the same time as, or after, sentences for certain other listed crimes.
- School police barred from sex with students: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, a school resource officer cannot have sexual contact or intercourse with a student enrolled at the school where the officer is assigned. A school resource officer includes an officer assigned under a written agreement between the police chief and the school system and Baltim…
- No sex with victims, witnesses, or detainees: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, an officer cannot have sexual contact or intercourse with a victim, witness, or suspect in an open case the officer is working on, when the officer knew or should have known the person’s role. An officer also cannot have sexual contact with someone asking for help during off…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Karen Simpson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kris Fair (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kenneth Kerr (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Emily Shetty (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-09 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 39 | 0 | 6 |
| 2026-03-18 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 132 | 0 | 3 |

## Actions (11)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 452
- 2026-04-09: Returned Passed (House)
- 2026-04-09: Third Reading Passed (39-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Referred Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Third Reading Passed (132-0) (House)
- 2026-03-13: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-03-13: Favorable Report by Judiciary (House)
- 2026-01-29: Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-01-16: First Reading Judiciary (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_452_hb0329t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0329t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-16: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0329f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_452_hb0329t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0329t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0329f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0329-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).